Improved instrument foe opening sheet-metal cans



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FREDERICK SEYMOUR, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Letters Patent No; 65,957, dated June'18, 1867.

IMPROVED INSTRUMENT FOB. OPENING SHEET-METAL CANS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY oon cnnm I Be it known that I, FREDERICK SEYMOUR, of Nashville, in thecounty of Davidson, and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usefulCan Opener; and Ihercby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an instrument for cutting open tin cans containing oysters or other viands.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my instrument, in the act of insertion. I

Figure 2 shows the instrument brought into effective position.

Figure?) shows my cutter detached.

A is a steel or iron shaft, having a square or other non-circular section, provided with a handle, B, and having a rectangular elbow, G, armed with a steel point, D, which is parallel, or nearly parallel to the shaft A. Projecting from the elbow 0, parallel with the pointD, and about one-twelfth of andnehrabove it, is a lip or guard, E, whose. ofiice it is to rest upon the top of the can, when the point is fully inserted. The portion c of the ,eloow, andthe entire point D, are cylindrical in transverse section. F is my cutter, having two opposite oblique cutting edges G G, which terminate in a sharp cutting point or angle, H, and having also an orifice, I, which, corresponding in its transverse section with the shaft A, closely embraces the same, but is susceptible of being slid along the said shaft, so as to be effective for cutting a larger or smaller circle. A set-screw, J. tapped through the top of the cutter, and impinging on the shaft, enables the retention of the cutter'to any specific adjustment. A shoulder, K, on the back of the'cutter, prevents its too great penetration into the can.

The operation is as follows: The point D being inserted, as shown in fig. 1, the handle is lowered to the position shown in fig. 2, so as to make of the cylindrical portion 1: an axis or pivot-journalling in the orifice created by the point, and preserved from dropping into or escaping out of the can by the guard E, and the now horizontal point D. A slight depression now of the handle causes the cutter to penetrate the tin, when a circular sweep of the handle cuts out the disk or circular piece'to be removed.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- The new article of manufacture, consisting of the guard E, in the described combination with the shaft A, handle B, elbow C, point D, and cutter F, whether-stationary oradjustable.

In testimony of which invention I'hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK SEYMOUR.

Witnesses:

G120 H. KNIGHT, Josue Fnnmssi 

